Clinical and serological evidence of Toxocara infection in school children from Morrope District, Lambayeque, Peru

Abstract

SUMMARYThe aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of human toxocariosis in a child population from Morrope district, Lambayeque, Peru. From October to December 2005, 182 school children (96 male and 86 female) were studied. Blood samples were collected for Toxocara ELISA-IgG test and hematological examination. Additionally, stool samples were collected for coproparasitological examination to check cross reactions. We found frequency of positives in 32.4% (59/182) with a significant higher proportion of positivity in male children (p < 0.00001). 71.2% of the children with positive serology (52 male and seven female), were between five and 10 years old, 77.96% had respiratory symptoms, 61.02% had ocular manifestations, 38.98% had hepatic symptoms, 38.98% had mild or moderate eosinophilia, signs statistically associated with seropositivity. 83.5% of studied population had some intestinal parasite, such as: Blastocystis hominis (53.3%), Giardia lamblia (31.3%), Entamoeba coli (29.1%), Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar (1.1%), Hymenolepis nana (5.49%), and Ascaris lumbricoides (3.3%), but they had not any association with serology results. The ownership of dogs or/and cats were significantly associated with seropositivity to antiToxocara antibodies although the presence of such pets within the house was not. In conclusion, clinical and serological evidence of Toxocara infection exists in the studied population.

Human toxocariasis: a seroepidemiological survey in the Amazonian city of Yurimaguas, Peru

“…This value is among the values of frequency previously found in other places from our country [7][8][9]30,31 and relatively similar with other studies from other Latin American countries 2,3,21,27 .…”

“…In Peru, a few reports have informed of frequencies from 7.8% to 44.92% in rural populations from different places [7][8][9]19,30,31 . However, seroepidemiological studies about human toxocariasis in Peruvian Amazonian populations have not been reported.…”

Pulmonary Presentation of Toxocara sp. Infection in Children

“…Human toxocariasis is a helminthozoonosis resulting from infestation of humans by roundworms Toxocara canis (T. canis) and cati (T. cati) [1]. The disease was first described in the 1950s and for many years was regarded as uncommon in children.…”

Contaminación de suelos con huevos de Toxocara sp. en ambientes internos de Instituciones Educativas Estatales de los distritos del cono Norte de Lima.

“…Estudios de seroprevalencia de toxocariasis en personas en el Perú han encontrado 27.9% en el distrito Perené (Espinoza et al, 2006), 32.4% en niños del distrito de Mórrope (Espinoza et al, 2008) y 46.7% en niños de instituciones educativas en el distrito de San Juan de Lurigancho (Breña et al, 2007).…”